Obituary of Joel Melford Stewart

Obituary Notice Funeral services for Joel Melford Stewart Sr. age 76 of Wedowee will be held Thursday April 25, 2013 at 2:00 PM from Wedowee First United Methodist Church with Rev. Russell Hestly , Rev. Gary Henderson and Harold Harmon officiating. Burial will follow in the Noonday Christian Church Cemetery. Mr. Stewart passed away Tuesday April 23, 2013 at his residence. Mr. Stewart is survived by his wife of 57 years Beth Stewart of Wedowee; One son Mel (wife Ashley) Stewart of LaGrange, Ga; One sister Margaret Gay of Jacksonville; Three grandsons Jay, Wilson and Gus Stewart. Active pallbearers will be Benny Camp, Larry Raughton, Dennis Gosdin, Tony Heard, Blake Harmon and Joey Burns. Honorary pallbearers will be Josh Burns, Pat Whaley, Hobert Rampy, Dwayne Adamson, Benny Herren, Chad Lee, Steve Burns, John Harold Harmon, Jim Chaffin, Brian Raughton and other members of the Thursday Night Supper Friends. Mr. Stewart was born June2, 1936 the son of James Walter and Burmice French Stewart. He will be sorely missed by the community he loved so dearly. A lifelong resident of Randolph County, he served as a county commissioner for a number of years. He retired after an illness to work on his farm. He was a member of Wedowee First United Methodist Church. His final years were filled with the joy of grandchildren whom he loved ferociously, and back to back National Championships for Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Jimmy Stewart. The family suggest in lieu of flowers donations be made to Wedowee First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at Benefield Funeral Home- Wedowee on Wednesday April 24, 2013 from 5 till 7 PM. Benefield Funeral Home of Wedowee in charge of the arrangements. Leave online condolences at www.benefieldfhwedowee.com